Updated September 2026
Dogs can pick up cuts and grazes surprisingly easily. Broken glass, sharp stones, thorns, rough ground and hidden rubbish can all cause injuries, particularly around the paws and lower legs.
A small superficial graze may only need gentle cleaning and monitoring. A deep wound, heavy bleeding, a bite wound or something embedded in the skin needs veterinary advice.
The most important part of first aid is not trying to treat everything yourself. It’s about figuring out what you can safely do now and when your dog needs a vet.
If your dog is bleeding heavily, appears very painful, has a deep wound or has something embedded in the wound, contact your vet promptly.
Affiliate note: This guide contains an affiliate link to a canine first-aid course I’ve taken (among others), and it is the most comprehensive. If you buy through my link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend resources I genuinely believe are relevant to dog owners.
Key Takeaways
- Dogs can easily get cuts and grazes from objects like glass and thorns; assess the injury before applying first aid.
- For minor wounds, rinse with clean water or saline; avoid antiseptics unless a vet advises them.
- If a wound bleeds heavily, apply pressure and contact a vet; do not remove embedded objects.
- Watch for signs of infection, such as redness or discharge, and consult a vet if the wound doesn’t heal properly.
- A small first aid kit with essentials can help, but learning canine first aid is crucial for effective responses.
Table of contents
- What should I do if I find a cut or graze on my dog?
- How should I clean a minor cut on my dog?
- What should I do if my dog’s wound is bleeding?
- Should I bandage a dog’s cut myself?
- What if there is glass, a thorn or another object in the wound?
- Should I let my dog lick a cut?
- When does a cut need a vet?
- Does a dog bite need a vet even if the hole looks small?
- What are the signs that a wound may be infected?
- What about cuts to a dog’s paw?
- What I do when I notice an injury on a dog walk
- A small first-aid kit is worth carrying
- Learning canine first aid before you need it
- Related dog health and first-aid guides
- A few basic products to keep around
- Frequently asked questions
- The important thing is knowing when first aid stops
- Veterinary disclaimer
What should I do if I find a cut or graze on my dog?
First, stop and look at the whole dog rather than concentrating only on the wound.
Is your dog alert and responsive? Are they walking normally? Are they breathing comfortably? Have you noticed any other injuries?
Pain can also change behaviour. Even a normally gentle dog may pull away, growl, snap, or bite when frightened or hurt, so approach slowly and avoid forcing an examination if your dog becomes distressed.
For a small superficial cut or graze that is not bleeding heavily:
- Move your dog somewhere safe and calm.
- Look at the wound without repeatedly poking or squeezing it.
- Gently rinse away visible dirt with clean lukewarm tap water or sterile saline.
- Prevent licking or chewing.
- Monitor the wound carefully as it heals.
If you are unsure whether the injury is genuinely minor, phone your vet.
How should I clean a minor cut on my dog?
For a minor superficial wound, clean lukewarm tap water or sterile saline is a sensible first option.
The goal is to flush away dirt and contamination without causing further damage.
Current PDSA guidance advises against routinely putting other products onto a wound unless your vet has recommended them. Even products sold as veterinary antiseptics can sometimes interfere with healing when used unnecessarily.
That means I would not automatically reach for:
- Hibiscrub
- household antiseptic
- wound creams
- essential oils
- Manuka honey
- homeopathic remedies
- human medication
A vet may recommend a specific product in certain situations. That is different from treating every small wound with it by default.
The simple approach is often the useful one.
Rinse. Assess. Protect. Monitor.
What should I do if my dog’s wound is bleeding?
A little bleeding from a superficial scrape is very different from continuous or heavy bleeding.
If a wound is bleeding heavily, place a clean dressing, gauze pad or clean cloth over it and apply firm, steady pressure.
Do not keep lifting the dressing every few seconds to see whether the bleeding has stopped. Removing it can disturb a forming clot and restart the bleeding.
If blood comes through the first dressing, place another clean layer over it while arranging veterinary help, rather than repeatedly removing the original dressing.
Contact your vet urgently if the bleeding is heavy, continuous or cannot be controlled.
My fuller When Should I Call the Vet? guide explains other signs that should prompt urgent veterinary advice.
Should I bandage a dog’s cut myself?
A temporary dressing can sometimes help control bleeding while you travel to the vet, but properly bandaging a wound is more complicated than it looks.
A bandage that is too tight can interfere with circulation. One that is badly positioned can rub, slip, become wet or cause additional problems.
PDSA advises that a vet or veterinary nurse should normally apply ongoing wound bandages.
So I would not routinely bandage every little cut.
For significant bleeding, use clean material and pressure while contacting your vet. If your vet advises a temporary bandage, follow their instructions.
What if there is glass, a thorn or another object in the wound?
If something substantial is embedded in the wound, do not pull it out.
That includes objects such as glass, metal, wood or wire.
Removing an embedded object can worsen bleeding or underlying damage. Avoid putting pressure directly onto the object and contact your vet.
This is especially important if an accident involves fencing or barbed wire.
My Dog Caught in Barbed Wire: What to Do and When to Call a Vet guide covers that situation in more detail.
Should I let my dog lick a cut?
No.
The old idea that a dog should lick a wound because saliva is antiseptic is not a good reason to allow persistent licking.
A dog’s mouth contains bacteria and repeated licking can irritate the wound, delay healing and increase the risk of infection.
Depending on where the wound is, your vet may suggest something such as a properly fitted protective collar, recovery suit or other suitable protection.
The important thing is to stop your dog from repeatedly licking, biting, or scratching the injury.
When does a cut need a vet?
Anything more serious than a small superficial cut or graze deserves veterinary advice.
I would contact a vet promptly for:
- heavy or persistent bleeding
- a deep or gaping wound
- a large area of damaged or missing skin
- obvious significant pain
- something embedded in the wound
- a badly contaminated wound
- an injury involving the eye
- a burn
- a wound that looks infected
- a wound that is getting worse rather than better
- a wound that is not healing normally
- a dog who seems generally unwell as well as injured
PDSA also advises veterinary attention for bleeding that remains heavy or has not stopped after around ten minutes.
You do not need to decide exactly what treatment is required before phoning.
Describe what has happened and let your veterinary team advise you.
Does a dog bite need a vet even if the hole looks small?
Yes. I would have a vet check a bite wound.
A puncture wound can look surprisingly small on the surface while there is more damage underneath. Dog mouths also contain bacteria, so bite wounds have a significant risk of infection.
PDSA advises that animals that have been bitten or attacked should be checked by a vet.
Do not judge the seriousness of a bite purely by the size of the visible hole.
What are the signs that a wound may be infected?
Keep checking a minor wound while it heals.
Possible warning signs include:
- increasing redness
- swelling
- heat around the area
- discharge
- an unpleasant smell
- increasing tenderness
- persistent licking
- the wound becoming larger rather than smaller
Your dog may also become less willing to use an injured leg or paw.
Contact your vet if you are concerned the wound is infected or
What about cuts to a dog’s paw?
Paws are one of the areas I pay particular attention to because dogs walk directly over whatever happens to be on the pavement, path or woodland floor.
Broken glass is an obvious problem, but cuts can also come from sharp stones, discarded metal, thorns and other debris. Blue Cross specifically recommends watching for broken glass and sharp material when walking dogs. (Blue Cross)
If your dog suddenly starts limping:
- stop rather than making them walk further
- look at the paw if they are comfortable with you doing so
- check between the pads
- look for bleeding
- look for a damaged nail
- check whether something is obviously embedded
Do not dig around inside a wound or pull out an embedded object.
A cut paw pad can also reopen as the dog walks, so seek veterinary advice if the cut is deep, painful, keeps bleeding, or affects how your dog bears weight.
What I do when I notice an injury on a dog walk
I have worked professionally with dogs since 2011 and hold an Ofqual Level 3 qualification in Canine First Aid.
That does not make me a vet.
My first-aid training has given me a much clearer idea of what to look for, what I can safely do in the first few minutes, and when to stop and seek veterinary help.
On a one-to-one walk, if a dog suddenly starts limping or I notice blood, I can stop and concentrate on that individual dog.
I would:
- move the dog somewhere safe
- keep unnecessary movement to a minimum
- assess what has happened
- look for other injuries
- control significant bleeding where appropriate
- avoid pulling out embedded objects
- contact the owner
- contact a vet where veterinary advice is needed
- follow the dog’s agreed emergency information
I would rather make a sensible phone call to a vet than experiment with a treatment because somebody recommended it online.
That is one reason I value working with dogs one household at a time on my solo dog walks.
A small first-aid kit is worth carrying
You do not need to carry a veterinary surgery around in your backpack.
For wound first aid, a few useful items can make a difference:
- clean sterile dressings
- gauze
- disposable gloves
- sterile saline
- clean cloth or small towel
- suitable bandage material for emergency use
- your vet’s details
- your phone
More equipment does not automatically mean better first aid.
Knowing what each item is for matters more.
My Dog First Aid Kit for Home and Walks guide covers the wider kit I recommend.
Learning canine first aid before you need it
Reading about first aid is useful.
Practising what to do before an emergency happens is better.
I think canine first-aid training is worthwhile for dog owners because it helps you assess an emergency, handle an injured dog safely, and recognise when professional help is needed.
One course I recommend is Rachel Bean RVN’s Canine First Aid and Wellbeing course, and it is one of the best online courses I have done, which led me to do the face-to-face Level 3 with Rachel. This is an affiliate link, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through it, at no extra cost to you.
A course does not turn you into a vet.
It can make those first few minutes much less confusing.
Related dog health and first-aid guides
For more practical guidance, read:
Dog Health & First Aid Guide for the main health and first-aid hub.
When Should I Call the Vet? for warning signs you shouldn’t ignore.
Dog First Aid Kit for Home and Walks for practical first-aid equipment.
Dog Caught in Barbed Wire: What to Do and When to Call a Vet for wounds involving wire or embedded objects.
A few basic products to keep around
Frequently asked questions
Can I put Hibiscrub on my dog’s cut?
Do not automatically use Hibiscrub or another antiseptic on every wound. For a small superficial wound, current PDSA advice recommends rinsing with clean, lukewarm water or saline and using other cleaning products only on veterinary advice.
Can I put human antiseptic cream on my dog?
Do not put human creams, medication or antiseptic products onto a wound unless your vet has told you they are suitable for your dog and that particular injury.
Can my dog lick a small cut?
It is best to stop repeated licking. Licking can introduce bacteria, irritate the wound and interfere with healing.
Should I remove glass from my dog’s paw?
If glass or another object is embedded in a wound, do not pull it out. Avoid pressing directly onto it and contact your vet.
How long should a minor cut take to heal?
Small superficial cuts and grazes often improve within a few days when kept clean and protected, but there is no single normal healing time for every wound. Contact your vet if it isn’t healing, becomes swollen or red, develops discharge, or your dog seems increasingly uncomfortable.
The important thing is knowing when first aid stops
A tiny graze and a deep wound are not the same problem.
For something genuinely minor, cleaning, preventing licking and keeping a close eye on it may be all that is required.
For heavy bleeding, deep wounds, bites, significant pain, embedded objects or anything that worries you, phone your vet.
First aid should make things safer while you decide what happens next.
It should never delay the veterinary care your dog needs.
Veterinary disclaimer
I am a professional dog walker and hold an Ofqual Level 3 qualification in Canine First Aid. I am not a veterinary surgeon.
This guide is intended for general first-aid awareness and owner education. It is not intended to diagnose an injury, prescribe treatment or replace advice from your veterinary practice.
If your dog is injured, unwell, in significant pain or you are unsure how serious a wound is, contact your veterinary practice. In an emergency, contact your veterinary practice or its out-of-hours emergency provider immediately.
